Credit Checks

stiltoncheese

Not quite sure if this is in the right forum or not so apologies and if not, please can mods move it. Thanks

How long do credit checks stay on your file for?

I tried to arrange a credit agreement in January, but due to having just moved house (and not yet on electoral register) and had also just changed jobs, the credit check failed (In hindsight I guess i should have known it would).

Anyway, instead of the company advising me that it had failed, they ran a further 2 credit checks without my consent, which obviuosly both failed as well!

I am just about to send of for my 3 credit reports to see what kind of damage they have done, and will obviously try to contact the company to see if they add a notice of correction or remove 2 of the checks, but how long will the original failed check stay on there for?

The only reason being that I am hoping to take a mortgage out sometime between December and January and I'm worried that this will stop me getting a decent rate or something.

Again, apologies if this is in the wrong place, but I figured that there are a lot of experts on this board and you all seem to know what you're talking about when it comes to checking reports and getting things moved or corrected.

Thanks again

lonely_2

12 months i think, then they drop off

Warriorsith

As mentioned above, 12 months is the limit.

stiltoncheese

Thanks guys.

The place i'm thinking of buying is a new build which means that the mortgage will need to be in place by about september, although I obviously won't actually complete and start paying for it until it's finished in December/January time.

Do you think these failed checks will have a massive impact, as they will have been on there for about 8 months? I haven't applied for any other credit since then and other than that, my credit file should be fine, no late payments or defaults or anything like that.

I feel really p****ed of about it because it would only have taken one phone call to tell me i'd failed the check and then I wouldn't have bothered buying the goods and waited until I was on the electoral register.

Sorry again, if I should be asking this somewhere else.

file_wizzard

As mentioned above searches will remain in your file for 12 months , however most lenders will only consider the volume of searches made within the last 6 months.

With regards to your comments on the “failed” applications then the status of the application is not reported to your file, and therefore will not have any negative impact on future searches.